PODCAST: Top 5 – Defence Connect’s best Strike and Air Combat stories

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PODCAST: Top 5 – Defence Connect’s best Strike and Air Combat stories

2020 was a big year for the nation, with Defence and defence industry playing an important role in the nation’s post-COVID recovery. In this top five, we will cover the most popular Strike and Air Combat domain stories of the year.

2020 was a big year for the nation, with Defence and defence industry playing an important role in the nation’s post-COVID recovery. In this top five, we will cover the most popular Strike and Air Combat domain stories of the year.

  

In this podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the massive year that was for the Royal Australian Air Force, which has seen major progress across the acquisition cycle, including on some of Australia’s largest Defence projects, with the growing fleet of fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and announcements around Australia’s acquisition of an armed remotely piloted aerial system.

2020 has also seen major progress and advancements across the Air Force’s fleet of E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning command and control aircraft, KC-30A Multi-role Tanker Transport and airlift aircraft fleet. 

However, 2020 was a year dominated by a focus on air combat and strike capabilities, with public conversation focusing on the F-35 and America’s decision to cancel the F-22 Raptor in the mid-2010s, as well as concerns about Australia’s long-range strike capability gap becoming increasingly topical talking points. 

Enjoy the podcast, 

The Defence Connect team

 

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Contested logistics and Australia’s defence industry priorities at Land Forces 2026, with Amentum Australia’s Kim Katheklakis
Episode 10: PODCAST: Containerised solutions and human-in-the-loop systems at Land Forces 2026, with IAI’s Maxim Zemer
Episode 9: SPOTLIGHT: Lockheed Martin Australia’s priorities, leadership and life after service, with Jeremy King
Episode 8: THE PROGRESS REPORT: Leadership, mentorship and life at sea – Commander Melanie Lennard on 17 years in the Royal Australian Navy
Episode 7: PODCAST: Australia’s munitions manufacturing push at Land Forces 2026, with NIOA Group’s Robert Nioa
Episode 6: PODCAST: EOS showcases new interceptor and layered drone defence at Land Forces 2026, with Lee Kormany
Episode 5: CONTESTED GROUND: The information advantage – how AI is reshaping influence, competition and power
Episode 4: PODCAST: Next-generation equipment at Land Forces 2026, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte
Episode 3: SPOTLIGHT: Defence electronics supply chains, counterfeit components and shortages
Episode 2: PODCAST: AUKUS, China and Australia’s defence industrial future, with former prime minister Scott Morrison